Peter Whelan

Irish-born Peter Whelan is among the most exciting and versatile exponents of historical performance of his generation, with a remarkable career as a conductor, keyboardist and solo bassoonist. He is Artistic Director of the Irish Baroque Orchestra and founding Artistic Director of Ensemble Marsyas.
As a concerto soloist, Whelan has performed in many of Europe's most prestigious venues,including the Musikverein (Vienna), Lingotto(Turin), St John's Smith Square (Lufthansa Festival) and the Cadogan and Wigmore Halls. He has recorded the Weber bassoon concerto for Linn records with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and his recording of Mozart's bassoon concerto with Arcangelo will be released on the Hyperion label in 2015. Whelan is the founder and artistic director of Ensemble Marsyas (formed in 2011), whose debut disc of Zelenka Sonatas received a Supersonic Award and was named BBC Music Magazine's 'Editors Choice'. A new disc of the sonatas of Fasch will be released at the forthcoming Wigmore Hall debut of Ensemble Marsyas in June 2014. Whelan has also collaborated with the Belcea Quartet, London Winds, Robert Levin, Anthony Marwood and Monica Huggett and appears with Tori Amos in her album Night of Hunters recorded for Deutsche Gramophone (2011). Whelan has also has worked with many of Europe's finest orchestras and directors including the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (Sir Simon Rattle), London Symphony Orchestra, Australian Chamber Orchestra, the English Baroque Soloists (Sir John Eliot Gardiner), Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Les Musiciens du Louvre and Oper Zürich. Peter Whelan has recently appointed Professor of Baroque Bassoon at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and gives masterclasses at conservatories across the UK and Europe. Peter has gracefully accepted an invitation to The Exhale during a time when so many musicians and audience members are not in a position to engage with him in the concert hall or the classroom. He is donating his income from The Exhale to musicians without regular income during this pandemic.

Spoken language: English